Pantone Yellow Colors

309 colors in the yellow family

Pantone Yellow spans the bright spectrum from the canonical Pantone Yellow C through sunny golds like Pantone 116 C and warm ochres such as Pantone 124 C. Our catalog includes 309 yellow-family colors, each with a unique code, HEX value, and CMYK print equivalent.

Total colors	309
Hue range	45° to 70°
Lightness range	16% to 87%
Saturation range	7% to 100%
Light / Medium / Dark	98 / 170 / 41

Featured Shades Matching All colors Questions

Featured Pantone Yellow colors

Twelve well-known yellow codes with full values, shades, harmonies and contrast checks on each color page.

Yellow 012 C#FFD700 Yellow PY12 C#F6DD00 6001 C#E7D083 6199 C#BDBEAE 6200 C#B5B5A0 6201 C#A1A288 6203 C#90906F 6205 C#999179 100 C#F6EB61 101 C#F7EA48 102 C#FCE300 Yellow C#FEDD00

Pantone Yellow shades by lightness

Yellow-family colors break naturally into three lightness bands. Light yellows - pale lemon, cream, butter - sit above 65 percent lightness and read as gentle warmth. Medium yellows - sunflower, marigold, gold - sit between 35 and 65 percent lightness and carry the bulk of yellow's visual weight. Dark yellows - mustard, ochre, dark gold - sit below 35 percent lightness and read as earthy and grounded, sometimes closer to brown than to yellow in emotional weight.

light yellow

98 colors

medium yellow

170 colors

dark yellow

41 colors

How to match Pantone Yellow in design

Matching Pantone yellow in design comes down to three decisions: hue bias, lightness band, and contrast pairing. First, decide warm versus cool: a cool lemon yellow feels fresh and modern; a warm gold yellow feels traditional and premium. Second, pick the lightness band: light yellows work as background accents, medium yellows carry most branding weight, and dark yellows function as warm neutrals that bridge toward brown. Third, plan contrast carefully: yellow on white is almost always unreadable, so pair yellow with black or dark navy for text, or use yellow purely as an accent against neutral backgrounds. For print, spot inks preserve yellow brightness far better than CMYK builds - process yellow shifts toward green or brown depending on the press.

Common mistakes with Pantone Yellow

Using pure yellow for text - pure yellow on white has a contrast ratio near 1:1, far below WCAG AA's 4.5:1 minimum

Assuming Pantone Yellow C is a spot color for branding - it is the primary process yellow, and most yellow branding uses warmer spot yellows like Pantone 109 C or 116 C

Forgetting that yellow is the most luminous color - a large yellow area can dominate a composition beyond intent, so use it sparingly

Mixing warm and cool yellows without a neutral bridge - a lemon yellow next to a mustard yellow often reads as an accidental clash

Trusting screen yellow on an uncalibrated monitor - yellow is the color most affected by display temperature shifts, so verify on at least two devices

All 309 Pantone Yellow colors

150 Coated + 159 TCX

Every color in this family, from pale tints to deep shades. Open any color for HEX, RGB, CMYK, shades, harmonies and contrast checks.

100 C#F6EB61 101 C#F7EA48 102 C#FCE300 103 C#C5A900 104 C#AF9800 105 C#897A27 106 C#F9E547 107 C#FBE122 108 C#FEDB00 113 C#FAE053 114 C#FBDE40 115 C#FDDA25 120 C#FBDB65 1205 C#F8E08E 121 C#FCD757 122 C#FED141 127 C#F3DD6D 128 C#F3D54E 2001 C#F8E59A 2002 C#F9E27D 2003 C#F9E267 2004 C#FBDD7A 2305 C#9EA700 2307 C#686F12 2308 C#5D551D 2327 C#837A58 379 C#E2E868 380 C#DBE442 381 C#CEDC00 383 C#A8AD00 384 C#949300 385 C#787121 386 C#E9EC6B 387 C#E3E935 388 C#E0E722 389 C#D0DF00 390 C#B5BD00 391 C#9A9500 392 C#827A04 393 C#F0EC74 3935 C#F3EA5D 394 C#EDE939 3945 C#F3E600 395 C#ECE81A 3955 C#EFDF00 396 C#E1E000 3965 C#EEDC00 397 C#BFB800 3975 C#BBA600 398 C#ADA400 3985 C#9A8700 399 C#A09200 3995 C#685C20 4001 C#E9DB9C 4002 C#DCC681 4003 C#D5C897 4004 C#C9B777 4015 C#D3C763 4016 C#D5BF39 4221 C#7B7D60 4226 C#868165 4227 C#6A6851 4228 C#59563E 4229 C#5B5C4A 4232 C#D2CF05 4233 C#C0BE00 4234 C#BBC25C 4235 C#B0B07C 4236 C#BFBE69 4237 C#ABA360 4238 C#8D8B53 451 C#9B945F 452 C#B0AA7E 456 C#A28E2A 458 C#D9C756 459 C#DECD63 460 C#E4D77E 461 C#E9DF97 5757 C#6D712E 5767 C#8A8D4A 5777 C#A2A568 5787 C#BABD8B 5797 C#C6C89B 5807 C#D0D1AB 581 C#625D20 5815 C#555025 582 C#8E8C13 5825 C#89813D 583 C#B7BF10 5835 C#A09958 584 C#D2D755 5845 C#AFA96E 585 C#DBDE70 586 C#E0E27C 587 C#E3E48D 600 C#F1EB9C 6001 C#E7D083 601 C#F0E991 602 C#F0E87B 603 C#EDE04B 604 C#EADA24 605 C#E1CD00 606 C#CFB500 607 C#EBE49A 608 C#E9E186 609 C#E6DE77 610 C#E1D555 611 C#D7C826 612 C#C4B000 613 C#B39B00 614 C#DCD59A 615 C#D6CF8D 616 C#D0C883 617 C#C0B661 618 C#AC9F3C 619 C#9F912A 6199 C#BDBEAE 620 C#8A7B19 6200 C#B5B5A0 6201 C#A1A288 6203 C#90906F 6205 C#999179 7401 C#F5E1A4 7402 C#ECD898 7403 C#EED484 7404 C#F4DA40 7405 C#F2CD00 7497 C#7A7256 7499 C#F1E6B2 7536 C#A69F88 7744 C#BABC16 7745 C#ABAD23 7746 C#999B30 7747 C#888D30 7748 C#7C8034 7749 C#727337 7750 C#656635 7751 C#CAB64B 7758 C#D4C304 7759 C#C4B200 7760 C#91852C 7761 C#747136 7764 C#535435 7765 C#BBB323 7766 C#B4A91F 7767 C#AA9D2E Black 2 C#332F21 Yellow 012 C#FFD700 Yellow C#FEDD00 Yellow PY12 C#F6DD00 Almond Oil 12-0713 TCX#F4EFC1 Pelican 14-6305 TCX#C1BCAC Overcast 14-0105 TCX#C3BDAB Tidal Foam 14-0210 TCX#BFB9A3 Agate Gray 15-6307 TCX#B1B09F Alfalfa 14-6308 TCX#B7B59F Castle Wall 14-0108 TCX#C8C1AB London Fog 16-0207 TCX#A29E92 Green Haze 14-0615 TCX#CAC4A4 Transparent Yellow 11-0617 TCX#F4ECC2 Dusty Yellow 12-0619 TCX#D4CC9A Lemon Grass 12-0626 TCX#DCD494 Golden Mist 13-0624 TCX#D5CD94 Pampas 14-0826 TCX#CFBB7B Cress Green 15-0643 TCX#BCA949 Olive Oil 16-0847 TCX#A98B2D Dried Moss 14-0626 TCX#CCB97E Celery 14-0647 TCX#CEC153 Acacia 13-0640 TCX#DACD65 Sulphur 14-0755 TCX#DDB614 Oil Yellow 15-0743 TCX#C4A647 Green Sulphur 16-0742 TCX#AE8E2C Golden Palm 17-0839 TCX#AA8805 Golden Green 15-0636 TCX#BDB369 Burnished Gold 16-0737 TCX#AA9855 French Vanilla 12-0722 TCX#EFE1A7 Pastel Yellow 11-0616 TCX#F2E6B1 Tender Yellow 11-0710 TCX#EDEDB7 Wax Yellow 11-0618 TCX#EDE9AD Lemonade 12-0721 TCX#F0E79D Elfin Yellow 11-0620 TCX#EEEA97 Limelight 12-0740 TCX#F0E87D Dusky Citron 14-0827 TCX#E3CC81 Muted Lime 14-0636 TCX#D1C87C Endive 13-0632 TCX#D2CC81 Custard 13-0720 TCX#E5D68E Canary Yellow 12-0633 TCX#DFD87E Yellow Cream 12-0738 TCX#EFDC75 Cream Gold 13-0739 TCX#DEC05F Aurora 12-0642 TCX#EDDD59 Green Sheen 13-0648 TCX#D9CE52 Maize 13-0746 TCX#EEC843 Blazing Yellow 12-0643 TCX#FEE715 Buttercup 12-0752 TCX#FAE03C Empire Yellow 14-0756 TCX#F7D000 Lemon 13-0752 TCX#F3BF08 Dandelion 13-0758 TCX#FFD02E Vibrant Yellow 13-0858 TCX#FFDA29 Cyber Yellow 14-0760 TCX#FFD400 Lemon Chrome 13-0859 TCX#FFC300 Mellow Yellow 12-0720 TCX#F0DD9D Popcorn 12-0825 TCX#F8DE8D Sunshine 12-0727 TCX#FADE85 Primrose Yellow 13-0755 TCX#F6D155 Super Lemon 14-0754 TCX#E4BF45 Lemon Curry 15-0751 TCX#CDA323 Marigold 14-1050 TCX#FADC53 Vetiver 17-0613 TCX#807D6F Deep Lichen Green 18-0312 TCX#6E6E5C Woodbine 18-0538 TCX#7B7F32 Dark Citron 16-0435 TCX#A0AC4F Daiquiri Green 12-0435 TCX#C9D77E Wild Lime 13-0540 TCX#C3D363 Linden Green 15-0533 TCX#C4BF71 Bright Chartreuse 14-0445 TCX#B5BF50 Tender Shoots 14-0446 TCX#B5CC39 Lime Punch 13-0550 TCX#C0D725 Sunny Lime 12-0741 TCX#DFEF87 Limeade 13-0645 TCX#D3D95F Sulphur Spring 13-0650 TCX#D5D717 Citronelle 15-0548 TCX#B8AF23 Apple Green 15-0543 TCX#B5B644 Warm Olive 15-0646 TCX#C7B63C Antique Moss 16-0840 TCX#B9A023 Lime Sherbet 13-0530 TCX#CDD78A Winter Pear 15-0523 TCX#B0B487 Garden Glade 13-0614 TCX#DCD8A8 Hay 12-0418 TCX#D3CCA3 Pale Green 13-0522 TCX#CBCE91 Young Wheat 12-0521 TCX#E1E3A9 Citron 12-0524 TCX#DFDE9B Luminary Green 12-0525 TCX#E3EAA5 Pale Lime Yellow 12-0520 TCX#DFE69F Chardonnay 13-0633 TCX#E7DF99 Lima Bean 13-0333 TCX#E1D590 Charlock 12-0530 TCX#E5E790 Mellow Green 12-0426 TCX#D5D593 Shadow Green 14-0627 TCX#CFC486 Celery Green 13-0532 TCX#C5CC7B Green Banana 14-0434 TCX#BABC72 Green Oasis 15-0538 TCX#B0B454 Leek Green 15-0628 TCX#B7B17A Weeping Willow 15-0525 TCX#B3B17B Palm 15-0535 TCX#AFAF5E Golden Olive 16-0639 TCX#AF9841 Oasis 16-0540 TCX#A3A04E Moss 16-0532 TCX#A09D59 Green Moss 17-0636 TCX#857946 Willow 16-0632 TCX#9A8B4F Beechnut 14-0425 TCX#C2C18D Nile 14-0223 TCX#B4BB85 Sweet Pea 15-0531 TCX#A3A969 Spinach Green 16-0439 TCX#909B4C Fern 16-0430 TCX#9AA067 Green Olive 17-0535 TCX#8D8B55 Turtle Green 17-0330 TCX#81894E Calliste Green 18-0324 TCX#757A4E Calla Green 18-0435 TCX#6A6F34 Pesto 18-0228 TCX#595F34 Sage 16-0421 TCX#91946E Iguana 18-0525 TCX#818455 Loden Green 18-0422 TCX#6E7153 Capulet Olive 18-0426 TCX#656344 Lint 14-0216 TCX#B6BA99 Pale Olive Green 15-0522 TCX#B5AD88 Sage Green 15-0318 TCX#B2AC88 Gray Green 16-0518 TCX#A49A79 Mermaid 17-0618 TCX#817A65 Tea 16-0213 TCX#999B85 Slate Green 16-0713 TCX#A0987C Elm 16-0613 TCX#A39F86 Mosstone 17-0525 TCX#858961 Aloe 17-0620 TCX#817A60 Olive Drab 18-0622 TCX#756D47 Cedar 16-0526 TCX#928E64 Boa 17-0625 TCX#8E855F Dried Herb 17-0627 TCX#847A59 Olive Branch 18-0527 TCX#646A45 Avocado 18-0430 TCX#676232 Fir Green 18-0627 TCX#67592A Bog 14-0418 TCX#BAB696 Moss Gray 15-6410 TCX#AFAB97 Abbey Stone 14-6408 TCX#ABA798 Burnt Olive 18-0521 TCX#646049 Ivy Green 19-0512 TCX#585442 Olive Night 19-0515 TCX#535040 Grape Leaf 19-0511 TCX#545144 Pear Sorbet 11-0615 TCX#F3EAC3 Pineapple Slice 12-0718 TCX#E7D391 Lemon Meringue 12-0711 TCX#F6E199 Yellow Iris 11-0622 TCX#EEE78E Goldfinch 12-0737 TCX#F8DC6C Lemon Zest 13-0756 TCX#F9D857 Winter Moss 18-0523 TCX#5B5A41 Lemon Icing 11-0515 TCX#F6EBC8 Yellow Pear 11-0623 TCX#ECE99B Celandine 12-0646 TCX#EBDF67 Lemon Verbena 12-0742 TCX#F3E779 Golden Kiwi 13-0644 TCX#F3DD3E Meadowlark 13-0646 TCX#EAD94E Evening Primrose 13-0651 TCX#CCDB1E Habanero Gold 13-0849 TCX#FED450 Golden Lime 16-0543 TCX#9A9738 Split Pea 16-0545 TCX#9C9A40 Lentil Sprout 16-0550 TCX#ABA44D Guacamole 17-0530 TCX#797B3A Mayfly 18-0220 TCX#65663F Martini Olive 18-0625 TCX#716A4D Kalamata 19-0510 TCX#5F5B4C

Questions about Pantone Yellow

What is the most popular Pantone yellow?

Pantone Yellow C is the primary process yellow and the most widely specified Pantone yellow by volume, though most of that usage is for CMYK process work rather than brand color. For branding, Pantone 109 C (warm sunny yellow) and Pantone 116 C (deep golden yellow) are the most commonly specified yellow spot inks. Pantone 1235 C and Pantone 124 C are the most common "premium gold" alternatives when a metallic effect is not desired.

What is the Pantone code for school-bus yellow?

Pantone 123 C (coated) is the closest published match to classic school-bus yellow, and it is also close to the color used in US school bus regulations - often called "National School Bus Glossy Yellow" in federal specifications. Its HEX approximation is around #FFC72C. Pantone 116 C and Pantone 122 C are also cited as school-bus-yellow approximations depending on the specific vehicle and lighting.

What is the difference between Pantone Yellow C and 116 C?

Pantone Yellow C is the primary process yellow - a bright, slightly green-leaning yellow optimized for CMYK process printing. Pantone 116 C is a warmer, deeper golden yellow that sits closer to the warm spot yellows used in branding. Yellow C looks slightly acidic on screen; 116 C looks like a natural sunflower or marigold. Both are useful but for very different purposes - Yellow C for process builds, 116 C for brand color.

How many Pantone yellows are there?

The Pantone Matching System includes more than 200 yellow-family colors across its Solid Coated and Solid Uncoated libraries. Our catalog shows 309 of them, filterable by lightness band. The exact count depends on where you draw the boundary with orange, green, and beige tones.

Why does yellow look different on every screen?

Yellow is the most luminous color the eye perceives, which makes it highly sensitive to display calibration and ambient lighting. Two monitors set to slightly different color temperatures will render yellow very differently - one may look warm and golden, the other acidic and greenish. For yellow-critical work (brand assets, packaging proofs), verify on multiple displays and, ideally, against a printed proof or a physical Pantone chip.